Exercise

　　Whether or not exercise addsto the length of life, it is common experience that a certain amount of regular exercise improves the health and contributes a feeling of well-being. Furthermore, exerise which involves play and recreation, and relieves nervous tension and mental fatigue in so doing, is not only pleasant but beneficial.

　　How much and what kind of exercise one should take merits careful consideration.The growing child and the normal young man and young woman thrill with the exhilaration of strenuous sports. They fatigue to the point of exhaustion but recover promptly with a period of rest. But not so with those _of middle age and beyond. For them moderation is of vital importance. Just how much exercise a person of a given age can safely take is question hard_to answer. Individual variability istoo great to permit of generalization. A game of tennis may be perfectly safe for one person of forty but folly for another. The sage limit for exercise depends on the condition of the heart, the condition of the muscles, the type of exercise, and the regularity with which it is taken. Two general suggestions, however, will serve as sound advice for anyone. The first is that the condition of the heart and general health should be determined periodically by careful, thorough physical examinations. The other is that exercise should be kept below the point of physical exhaustion.

　　What type of exercise one should choose depens upon one’s physical condition. Young people can safely enjoy vigorous competitive sports, but most older persons do better to limit themselves to less strenuous activities. Walking, swimming, skating are among the sports that one can enjoy and safely participate in throughout life. Regularity is important if one is to get the most enjoyment and benefit out of exercise.

　　译文：

　　运动

　　不论体育运动是否能延长人的寿命，人们普遍认为，适量而有规律的体育运动可以增强体质，并使人愉悦。另外，体育运动及玩乐和消遣于一体，可以使人放松紧张情绪，缓解精神疲劳。因此，做运动一举两得：既能放松，有有益于身心健康。

　　一个人适合做什么样的体育运动，运动强度如何?这些问题值得人们注意。发育中的儿童和一般的青年男女都会因紧张剧烈的运动而激动不已。即使累得筋疲力尽， 他们也能在一段休息之后很快恢复体力。但是中年及中年以上的人就做不到。对这些人来说，运动适度是很重要的。不同年龄的人从事多少运动是一个难以回答的问 题。个人的差异太大，无法一概而论。某种网球运动可能对于某个40岁的人来说是安全的，但对于另一个人来说却不合适。运动的安全范围取决于认得心脏状况、 肌肉状况、运动类型以及进行运动的规律性。但是下面两个一般性建议适合所有人。一个建议是应该定期进行细致的体检，查看心脏情况和总体体质。另一个建议是 运动强度要适度，不应使人筋疲力尽。

　　一个人选择哪种类型的运动取决于他的体质。年轻人可以放心地参加有力度的竞技性运动，但大多数老年人最好还是把自己的活动限制在不太剧烈的程度之内。散 步、游泳和滑冰是人们喜欢的运动并且各个年龄段的人都可以参加。任何人想从体育运动中获得最大的乐趣和益处，那么有规律就很重要了。

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（责任编辑：何莹莹）